Job Description
Senior Mechanical Project Manager – LondonThe Company Our client is an established mechanical building services contractor delivering a varied portfolio of projects across London and the surrounding areas.
Their work covers a broad range of mechanical services including HVAC, heating, cooling, ventilation, air conditioning and associated building services installations, with projects typically ranging from approximately £250k through to £5m in value .The business has a strong pipeline of work and is continuing to grow its London delivery team. They are now looking for an experienced Senior Mechanical Project Manager who can take genuine ownership of projects technically, commercially and operationally.
This is not simply a site-management position with responsibility for coordinating labour and subcontractors.
The successful individual will be expected to understand the complete project lifecycle, retain control of design and delivery, identify problems early and confidently drive projects through to completion.
The Role
You will take responsibility for the successful delivery of mechanical building services projects across London.
Depending on the project, this could involve managing a number of smaller schemes, one or two projects in the £2m-£4m range , or taking responsibility for a larger mechanical package approaching £5m .The important distinction is the level of ownership.
You will be expected to understand what is happening technically, commercially and operationally across your projects and to actively manage the process rather than simply report progress.
Your responsibilities will include:
Taking full ownership of mechanical projects from handover through to completionManaging and progressing the mechanical design throughout the projectReviewing drawings, specifications and technical informationIdentifying design issues and developing practical solutionsDriving value-engineering opportunities rather than relying entirely on consultants to provide solutionsManaging design changes and understanding their commercial and programme implicationsDeveloping, monitoring and actively managing project programmesIdentifying programme risks before they become criticalManaging procurement, materials, plant and subcontract packagesManaging subcontractors, suppliers, supervisors and site teamsMonitoring progress and actively driving the delivery team where requiredUnderstanding project costs, variations and commercial performanceRecognising the financial implications of procurement, programme and design decisionsWorking closely with the commercial team while retaining strong commercial ownership of your projectsLeading client, consultant and main contractor meetingsRepresenting the business confidently in difficult or commercially sensitive discussionsChallenging decisions constructively where necessaryManaging quality, testing, commissioning, handover and close-outMaintaining strong health and safety standards throughout deliveryTechnical & Design Management A particularly important part of this position is design management .You do not need to be a design engineer, but you must be technically strong enough to understand, challenge and progress a mechanical design.
The client is looking for somebody who can retain control of the design process, identify potential problems and develop solutions with the wider project team.
That includes understanding value-engineering opportunities and being capable of proposing practical alternatives rather than simply passing technical issues back to the consultant.
Experience across different building types would therefore be particularly valuable.
Relevant sectors could include: Commercial officesEducationHealthcareLaboratoriesClean roomsStudent accommodationResidentialOther technically demanding building services environmentsYou do not need experience across every sector, but exposure to several different project types is likely to have created the breadth of technical and delivery experience required for the role.
Genuine Project Management Experience The client is particularly interested in depth of experience actually operating as a Project Manager .Ideally, you will have around 10 years' experience working at Project Manager level , managing mechanical building services projects of comparable size and complexity.
Someone may have 20+ years within the mechanical industry, but experience progressing through pipefitting, plumbing and site supervision does not necessarily provide the same exposure as somebody who has spent a substantial period genuinely managing projects.
The distinction they are looking for is somebody who has personally been responsible for: Design managementProgrammeProcurementCommercial decisionsClient relationshipsSubcontractor performanceTechnical problem-solvingProject riskDelivery through to commissioning and handoverIn short, someone who has run projects , rather than predominantly managed the site element of them.
Why This Role Exists The business has a strong orderbook and a number of projects either starting or progressing through pre-construction and delivery across London.
They are strengthening the team with an experienced individual who can take responsibility for their own projects and become a key part of the London operation.
They need somebody senior enough to be trusted with the complete delivery process.
That means understanding the technical detail, appreciating the commercial consequences of decisions, controlling the programme and being confident enough to represent the company directly with clients, consultants and main contractors.
What Makes It Different This is a hands-on Project Management role where you will have genuine responsibility and visibility.
You will not be several layers removed from your projects or restricted to reporting information upwards.
You will have the autonomy to make decisions, solve problems and influence how projects are designed, procured and delivered.
The opportunity offers: Mechanical projects ranging from approximately £250k to £5mA varied portfolio of building typesGenuine project ownershipSignificant involvement in design and technical decision-makingDirect access to senior managementStrong support from commercial, engineering and site teamsThe opportunity to influence project strategy and deliveryLong-term progression as the London operation continues to developWhat You'll Need You should be able to demonstrate: Significant experience operating specifically as a Mechanical Project ManagerIdeally around 10 years' genuine Project Management experienceExperience delivering mechanical projects of comparable value and complexityStrong mechanical building services knowledgeGood understanding of HVAC, heating, cooling, ventilation and associated systemsStrong design-management capabilityThe ability to review, challenge and progress mechanical designsConfidence identifying technical solutions and value-engineering opportunitiesExperience developing and actively managing project programmesStrong commercial awarenessUnderstanding of variations, procurement and the financial impact of project decisionsExperience managing subcontractors and supply chainsThe ability to identify programme, technical and commercial risks earlyStrong client-facing communication skillsConfidence dealing directly with consultants and main contractorsThe ability to lead difficult conversations when necessaryExperience managing projects through commissioning, handover and close-outStrong leadership and communication skillsA practical, proactive approach to project deliveryYou do not necessarily need to have spent your career delivering £5m mechanical projects.
However, you must be able to demonstrate substantial experience genuinely managing complex mechanical building services projects and taking ownership of them technically, commercially and operationally.
The Package The client is prepared to offer: Up to £110,000 basic salary , depending on experienceCompany benefitsPensionHoliday entitlementTraining and professional developmentGenuine long-term progressionThe final package will depend on the depth and relevance of your experience.
Interested? You don't need to have made a decision to leave your current employer. An initial conversation can be completely informal and confidential and will give you the opportunity to understand the projects, team and longer-term opportunity before deciding whether you would like to take things any further.
Contact Nimble Recruitment for a confidential discussion. A CV isn't essential at this stage.
Senior Mechanical Project Manager in Enfield employer: Nimble Recruitment
As a leading main contractor in the defence and data centre sectors, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Our employees benefit from competitive salaries, comprehensive packages, and ample opportunities for professional growth within a supportive environment, making us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in a thriving industry.
